CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Major Garrett says former Fox News personality and Minnesota-native Pete Hegseth has the votes and will in all likelihood be the next U.S. Secretary of Defense when the full Senate votes Friday night.
This confirmation comes despite allegations surrounding his treatment of women and alcohol use, and his views on women in the military.
Garrett, speaking with WCCO's Chad Hartman, says the senate is clearly following President Donald Trump's marching orders for his controversial choice of Hegseth.
"Let's just be clear about this. Native son of Minnesota, nothing against Pete Hegseth, but you take President Trump out of the equation, he wouldn't be nominated by any other Republican, and he wouldn't be confirmed by any other Senate," Garrett says. "He just wouldn't."
Garrett says Hegseth is headed to the Pentagon with the narrowest confirmation majority in the history of defense secretaries.
On Thursday, the Senate advanced the nomination of Pete Hegseth as Trump’s defense secretary on a largely party-line vote, despite grave objections from Democrats and stirring unease among Republicans over his behavior and qualifications to lead the U.S. military.
Two Republicans, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, broke ranks with Trump and his allies who have mounted an extensive public campaign to push Hegseth toward confirmation. The former combat veteran and Fox News host faces allegations of excessive drinking and aggressive actions toward women, which he has denied.
The vote was 51-49, with a final vote on confirmation expected Friday, just enough to put Hegseth over the top and into the Trump cabinet.
AP reported Thursday Hegseth paid $50,000 to the woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017, according to answers he provided to a senator during his confirmation process.
Separately, a new claim emerged this week in an affidavit from a former sister-in-law who claimed Hegseth was abusive to his second wife to the point that she feared for her safety. Hegseth has denied the allegation. In divorce proceedings, neither Hegseth nor the woman claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) said Thursday that Hegseth is unqualified for the job.
“One of the kindest words that might be used to describe Mr. Hegseth is erratic, and that’s a term you don’t want at DOD,” Schumer said. “He has a clear problem of judgment.”